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<\/p>\nMy stay in Greece has been INCREDIBLE so far. SO MUCH has happened since I’ve arrived. I almost don’t even know where to begin. Figuring out how to get around Athens was my first priority so I suppose it would make sense to start there.<\/p>\n
My first morning waking up in Greece, I set off for the city center, Syntagma Square, to purchase my 30-day monthly pass for Greece’s public transportation system. The night I landed in Greece, I attempted to purchase my 30-day pass right away but I was informed by a woman at the ticket issue booth that the monthly passes are only sold at the city center. I was forced to purchase a one-way ticket to my actual stop and then another ticket to Syntagma the following morning.<\/p>\n
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Fortunately, once I arrived at Syntagma, I was able to buy my personalized ATH.ENA Card. <3 Figuring out where to go and how to get one was mildly confusing and only involved making a few guesses on which lines to stand and wait in.<\/p>\n
Athens offers a number of different short-term and long-term transportation passes for travelers.<\/p>\n
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Considering I intend to spend a decent amount of time in Greece, the monthly pass made the most financial sense for me. I purchased the 30 Euro personalized pass without airport transfers. (Students and other people with other personal circumstances may qualify for reduced\/half-priced tickets!)<\/p>\n
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After standing in the line for over 15 minutes, I spotted a Metro system worker walking along the side of the line answering questions from people queuing. I asked if I was in the right place to buy a monthly Athena card. He told me that it was the right place and that all I would need is the money to buy it and my passport.<\/p>\n
“My passport….?” I asked, “I’m didn’t know I’d need mine. Would a driver’s license be sufficient?”<\/p>\n
He wasn’t sure so he walked to the ticket issue booth to find out for me. When he returned, he explained that they do need an official passport. I really didn’t want to leave the line, buy another temporary Metro ticket, and come back again only to wait in the long line a second time. I tried asking if they might accept a photo of my passport instead. When the Metro representative asked for me, the answer from the issuers, once again, was a hard no<\/strong>. I figured I wasted enough time waiting that I might as well wait until it was my turn and ask for myself.<\/p>\n When I was at the counter, I asked if they might be willing to issue a card to me with my Driver’s License and a clear photo of my passport. Sure enough, THEY DID!\u00a0THEY ACTUALLY MADE AN EXCEPTION!<\/strong><\/p>\n OH THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!<\/p>\n Now I can ride, the Greek Metro! I call it the Metpo because that is what I think it looks like it says in Greek.<\/p>\n And so the countdown on my 30-day pass began! I walked away carrying my personalized card granting me access to all metro, tram, and bus lines in Athens. Into the city, I walked.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" My stay in Greece has been INCREDIBLE so far. SO MUCH has happened since I’ve arrived. I almost don’t even …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":32913,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5628],"tags":[5631],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.therockysafari.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/IMG_9200-1024x693.jpg\")
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